Ireland impress before rain arrives

Ireland had the best of the first hour against a new-look England side in the RSA Challenge at Clontarf.

Having famously beaten England in the sides' last meeting in Bangalore in March, the Irish again showed they would be no pushovers as they kept the visitors to 38 for two after 12 overs before a rain break.

Craig Kieswetter (14) was first to fall to the impressive John Mooney, before Boyd Rankin soured James Taylor's much-anticipated debut, with the Leicestershire batsman scoring just one run from eight balls..

England, opening with Kieswetter and Jonathan Trott, attempted a couple of quick singles early on, just avoiding a run-out when Niall O'Brien broke the stumps with a quick-thinking kick.

The first four came off the 13th ball, Trott flicking Rankin through square leg, but the going was slow. Mooney, asked to take the new ball in Trent Johnston's injury-enforced absence, started well and conceded just three from his first three overs.

Kieswetter got things going with a six off Rankin, albeit an unintentional one that took the top edge and sailed high over the wicketkeeper. His luck evaporated in the next over, though, when Mooney located the edge and Niall O'Brien took a smart low catch.

The highly-rated Taylor was in at three on his debut, getting his first international run with a risky single that put Trott under pressure from Kevin O'Brien's direct hit.

England reached 34 for one after 10 overs, Trott with three fours in his 17.

Taylor did not add to his score before Rankin hurried him for pace and had him caught at mid-wicket from a mis-timed pull.

Eoin Morgan, captaining his adopted country for the first time, was welcomed warmly by his one-time home crowd but had no time to make an impression before the covers came on.